This is an old post, but I'm going to respond for the sake of the
archives. I just had this problem. My contacts were OK, but it was a
related issue.

There's a little plastic nubbin that slides into some grooves on the
wiper stalk.This nubbin keeps the brass strip centered in between
front sprayer contact and the rear sprayer contact. In my case, one of
the grooves (ridges, really) broke off and the nubbin would pivot or
flex to the point that it wasn't able to push the strip into the front
spray contact (rear worked fine) and activate the front washer
sprayer.

I was able to do a little plastic welding surgery using a soldering
iron to push some of the plastic material from the arm into the form
of a new ridge to hold the nubbin in place. I suppose some wonder glue
product may work, but I've had pretty bad luck in trying to glue this
old VW resin/plastic stuff.

Wiper sprayer now works perfect, but in the process I screwed
something else up internally in the switch when it popped apart in the
dark. (I must have either misplaced or lost as spring or one of the
metal "U" contact pieces.).

Cheers (and long time no see)!
Tim in Seattle

On Sun, Aug 9, 2009 at 9:29 AM, Karl <tdiguru@westyventures.com> wrote:
> Most often it's the switch contacts inside the right stalk switch. Peer
> into the switch from the right side, through the hole on the plastic
> that surrounds the steering column, and as you pull back on the lever
> you will see the contacts (exposed) that perform the task. A
> carefully-folded piece of extra-fine sandpaper pushed to and fro through
> these contacts, then cleaned with a piece of white paper, will likely
> fix the problem. To verify this is the problem, you can cross the
> contacts with a small straight screwdriver with the key on - if that
> works then go ahead with the above cleaning.
>
> Karl
>

--
Tim King
Seattle WA
87 Syncro Westy/ Suby 2.5