Are you testing using the "diode" setting on your meter?
If so, that could be reading the 0.75 volt drop that is normal for a diode. A diode acts like an open circuit when the wrong way round in your circuit and a short circuit when the right way round. If you place a low watt lamp and diode in a series circuit from your battery, most of the battery voltage will appear across the lamp with a small 0.7 volt drop across the diode.
Hope that helps? (It's late and I should be in bed !)
Simon.