It may be a VW thing, to have the rear washer squirt (a little) when you activate the rear wiper - my '95 VW Golf III GL did this.  A very quick push forward produced a little squirt and turned on the (intermittent) rear wipers - a long push produced a good long squirt and kept the wiper moving until released, when it resumed intermittent setting.  I did, over 8 years of ownership, get to the point where I could sometimes not have the little squirt, if I was quick enough, but usually a little liquid appeared.
 
Of course, that was the same wiper setup where you set how long the delay between swipes was on the front wipers by how long a time gap you left between quick pulls on the wiper stalk - a feature my wife never quite figured out.
 
James
Ottawa, ON
 
> Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2014 13:01:55 -0400
> From: mcperdue@GMAIL.COM
> Subject: Re: Rear Window Wiper/Washer
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 
> Stephen,
> 
> On my '87 Westy, non-Syncro, the washer comes on when you hold the stalk
> forward. You should be able to push it forward and let go to activate the
> rear window wiper. If that's not working, the contact ring under your
> steering wheel likely needs to be cleaned.
> 
> You could empty the reservoir too, like Karl so seriously suggested, but
> you'd probably spill washer fluid on your bed . . . :^)
> 
> Marc Perdue
> 
> 
> 
> On Fri, Apr 11, 2014 at 12:33 PM, Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@q.com> wrote:
> 
> > Empty the reservoir?
> >
> > Karl Wolz
> > Sent from my electronic umbilicus
> >
> > > On Apr 11, 2014, at 8:37 AM, Stephen Engel <sengel543@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
> > >
> > > My 87 Syncro GL has the rear wiper/washer. When I operate the wiper by
> > pushing forward on the stalk I also get a squirt of washer fluid. I usually
> > use it when it's raining or snowing and don't need any washer fluid.
> > >
> > > It's a minor annoyance, but wonder if there is a fix for this? Am I
> > doing something wrong? The owners' manual is long gone.
> > >
> > > Steve
> > > 87 Syncro GL
> > >
> > > Sent from my iPhone
> >