1999 Honda Dashboard Display (odometer, speed, rpm etc.) not working?

Question

I brought my car in to a mechanic yesterday to have a power steering fluid leak fixed. They also changed the oil. At the mechanics, the odometer stopped displaying. As well, the speed, rpm etc. (the entire dashboard) is not working at all.

Please advise what could cause this. Could it have been something the mechanic might have done accidentally? Like loosen a wire or something, a quick fix? Or is it likely unrelated. The stereo is also asking for "code" so it means the battery or alternator power supply had been disconnected.

The mechanic says he didn't cause it but has no idea what is wrong with it and I should bring it to Honda. I've called them and made an appointment. I asked on the phone what it might be and he said he'll have to see it but most likely the instrument cluster has gone. Is this an expensive repair? Sounds like it.

This is a 1999 Accord with under 60,000 kilometres. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

It is digital. None of the gauges are working at all. Someone on another forum has told me this is not likely a coincidence. Everything was working when I took it into the mechanics and for some reason they disconnected the battery (the radio asking for a code proves this). Someone said if they were working in the power steering area they may have scorched some of the electrics in the alternator area and unplugged the battery to see if it will reset.

Answer 1

Is it just dark (ie. unreadable), or NONE of the gauges work at all? Do you have the digital or analog gauges?

If it's digital gauge, could just be the backlight is gone. That's a several hundred dollar fix as they have to take apart the instrument to get to the bulbs.

If it's analog and they all look dead, could be a short circuit somewhere. Hard to tell without tracing circuits, and that MAY be costly in terms of labor.