Question
it's leaking a dark brown fluid from the base of the one of the branches.  clear dark brown and slight odor but nothing bad smelling ????   thanks  is that normal??  

Answer
Sounds like a borer has attacked the tree.

I would treat the tree with an insecticide called Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect control. This is applied to the soil and the roots take it into the trunk killing the borers in the wood. Borers attack trees under stress so i would also fertilize the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of trunk diameter scattered around the tree and watered in good. Here is a web link to more information on Bayer Advanced.
http://www.bayeradvanced.com/product/Tree-Shrub-Insect-Control/concentrate.html

You can spray the trunk with an insecticide called Onyx or Merit. These will soak into the bark killing the borer in the trunk. The method you choose will depend on if you have a sprayer (a regular pump up type sprayer) and can reach the trunk. Both of these methods of control will work.

Check with your local garden type store for these products.