with the key on my test light will light up when i connect between the orange wire and ground. cant get the white wire to do anything. is this normal?

 

Tell us what year it is but it's probably normal. On a 2000 a constant 12v+ is supplied to a pink wire and the white is "ground" supplied by the VCM when it wants to open the solenoid. Unless you have a scanner that could command it open you can only check continuity to the white wire in the red VCM connector. (looking at the connector latch down - bottom row, second from the left)

 

its a 2003