pressure gauge/motor shutting off

[duraleigh]

If a suction hose is leaking water, the pump is most likely off. Therefore, with the pump on, it is probably sucking air.....very possibly causing the low filter pressure.

A pressure drop like you're describing should result in noticeable decrease of flow into the pool. If your flow back into the pool seems normal, consider the guage as a source of the fault.

[pluck]

The leaky hose was replaced. The pressure gauge still reads around 2 instead of 8.
There are 2 or 3 big air bubbles at the top of the strainer basket.
Worst of all, the motor ran for 2 minutes then shut off.
What should I try next???