windscreen washer jets?

I have a renault megane liberte 1999. The windscreen washer does not work. I pumped air from the rubber tube back into the water reservoir and they worked when I pressed the windscreen lever. But when I turned off the engine and started again it would not start. I cleaned the jets and sucked out the water reservoir with a hand pump and twice poured hot water into the reservoir and drained again. It started once and would not start again when I restarted the engine. There is a whirring noise when I pull back the washer lever. Does this mean the pump is defective or is there another solution?

J Golding
March 2011