Front wiper fluid pump not working..

[unadilla66]

2012 Yaris 3d...
Front wiper fluid pump has stopped working. Trying to confirm it's the pump before I pull apart the fender liner to get at it...
With the key on, when I pull the stalk back to wash/wipe, nothing happens. Wipers work as usual when I push the stalk down. The washer fuse looked good, but I replaced it anyway- no change. But here's what seems weird to me- I pulled the fuse and ran a tester to ground (key on). On one side of the fuse, the tester light goes on. When I touch the tester to the other side the wipers do 3 or so passes, like when the stalk is pulled back, no fluid. Is that how it should work (and an indication of the pump being bad, pending checking the terminals at the pump)? Clearly I'm not an electrical engineer... Seems weird that grounding the one side runs the wipers, but with the fuse in pulling the stalk doesn't. I just want to confirm if what I'm seeing at the fuse box is right before I proceed with a pump replacement (and not that it's some other gremlin....) THX!

[edit]- I should note that I don't hear any sound from the pump area when I pull the stalk back, rear works fine and I hear the pump when I use it.