Jfrahm

I wonder if you plugged your red probe into the amperage socket on your meter? To measure current there is usually another socket and you cannot get a current reading otherwise.
it's really important to switch it back when you are done as the amps/current probe rigging goes though a resistor to ground and if you try to measure voltage rigged like that, the DMM's fuse will pop.
You have to get into the habit of swapping that lead to amps and then back to "everything else" after taking a current reading.

In this pic you see the meter rigged for "everything but amps" and the empty socket on the left for amps.
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/...1000_QL80_.jpg

-Joel

husker boxster

Yep. There's a separate plug for the pos lead for 10a. So I tried again with the meter set up properly.

I'm getting a draw this time.


So I started pulling fuses, 5 at a time and checking the meter after ea grp.


After grp 21-25, the meter read:


Found fuse 24 was the culprit. According to the fuse map, 24 is the Interior Lights & Diagnostics. I blew this fuse earlier this summer and know it runs the bottom half of my instrument cluster.

Jfrahm

Glove box light maybe.

Mrmerlin

tip use the IR gun to tell if the lamp housing is hot after letting the car sit for 10 mins open the glove box and check it .

NOTE you could have a miswired interior light,
this will cause a similar issue, usually in the hatch or over the mirror.
Warning best to disconnect the battery First ,
and remove all the lamps and check that they are all properly connected,
put heat shrink on every connector end so it can`t short..

NOTE best to replace the over head lights with the Jetta variant this will reduce the chance of a short taking out the interior lights harness