water draining from filter

[poolbee]

Seems I was too optimistic about the fix-still loosing prime. Not all the time, just sometimes. That I don't understand. The pump went on this morning with no problem, there was no loss of prime. I didn't touch anything between noon when the pump went off ond 7pm when it went back on but the pump basket was empty of water. It does fill up right away but I can't program my pump if I can't trust that it is sealed properly.
I went out looking more closely and do see that there is a small crack in the pump itself, just behind where the ground wire is attached. I do not recall that being there before, then again, I never looked at it that closely before. Could that cause the leak?
Also I noticed that the putty-for lack of the proper word- around the pipe to the pump is still soft, but not even. Could this be a source of the problem? I noted too that there was water driping out of the end of the waste pipe. I never use that-I don't vacuum and use an electric pump to lower my water if I have to. The pool and pump are less than a year old. It is a Jacuzzi Magnum Force pump.
Also, there are no bubbles in the pump basket when the pump is running so I am thinking it isn't in a suction line. Correct thinking?
Any ideas... anyone?