Just a hint on the soldering.  The 30W pencil should work well.  DO NOT use
liquid flux, unless it is rosin type.  The acid flux is not suitable for
electronic work.  Instead, tin the wire before soldering it.  After
stripping it, heat it with the iron and apply the solder sparingly to the
wire, allowing the wire to become coated with solder.  If the iron is new
and the tip is not tinned, you will also have trouble.  The main rule of
soldering is to apply the heat to the parts being joined, then apply the
solder to it.  Do not apply the solder to the iron while trying to bond the
wires.  Hope this helps.  I'm an electronics engineer in my full-time job
when I'm not servicing VW locks and making keys!  Good luck.
Steve Sandlin
Steve's Lock Shoppe
http://www.steveslockshop.com
'84 Wolfsburg Westy
'79 Transporter
'00 New Beetle