Thanks for tips. I'm pretty sure these sealed Lithium batteries will not of any out gassing.

Sign of the times. Got my new voltmeter and it indicated draw of 168mA!!! This is after I swapped out alternators, and battery stopped dying after car sat for couple weeks. It was only showing a 60-67mA draw with my other meter before the batteries leaked out and ruined the meter. Finally got another meter, although the car has been fine, and I felt certain I already found the problem to be the alternator. Sure enough, new, new meter shows 30mA draw, old, new meter still showing 168mA draw (yes, I'm sure dial settings are right). Typical POS right out of the box. So frustrating. So confirmed it was the alternator, and confirmed so much new stuff is junk, and certain not to be getting any better soon.

lol, when it rains it pours. If i was close by I'd come over with my Flukes and help sort it out with you.

Some times cheap tools are more expensive than a good tool.

Thanks. I'm certain I got it sorted out now with the alternator replacement. Frustrating though because now you can't count on new part being good, and have to wonder if it's bad too, or if that wasn't problem in the first place.