Hayward Pool & Spa - Page 7 - Recent Questions, Troubleshooting & Support

have it checked out by a gas professional the white smoke could have been moisture in the insulation but the gas supply side should be professionally checked

"IF" - Hayward Pool Heater Fails to Ignite: the most common reason for this problem is insufficient gas supply. The Hayward heater LED display will show a diagnostic fault code of "IF" which stands for Ignition Failure. Undetected gas pressure problems if not investigated properly may result in unnecessary replacement and servicing of your Hayward Pool Heater.

Replace the seal and see.

I believe that the owners manual has a parts listing to help you distinguish the part that you will need to buy. However, if your pool filter was purchased in 1990, you are probably going to need a new filter. Most do not last over 20 years.

http://www.backyardcitypools.com/images/hayward/pro-series-manual.pdf

motor brushes need to be replaced

Sounds like the thermal protector for the motor is tripping. This means there is a problem with the motor overheating. It is a self resetting switch so when it cools off enough the pump will come back on. It also means you probably need a new pump.

It likely is having a problem in the header. There are two items called High Limit switches in there, that open when a preset water temperature is reached. These can go bad, or they could be opening because they are doing their job. Based on your description, they are doing their job. I would start to look for a problem with the heat exchanger and with the internal bypass assembly as my starting points. These can cause an overheating situation.