I’m sorry about your VPM-1 troubles.
Are you saying you’re measuring 4.15 and 8.80 thousand volts?! Are you sure you are using your multimeter correctly?
I don’t want to insult you, but you may not have the experience to successfully build this type of project. Unfortunately, the VPM-1 isn’t a very beginner friendly kit (as explained in the assembly manual)….the reason I’m bringing it up is because it may be difficult to help you in this forum if you don’t have the correct tools or much experience using them. You may need to take this kit to an electronics technician to get some live face-to-face help.
I’m sorry about this.
-Brach