Gauges Not Working

I got a new alternator about a month ago. I have checked the fuses, although I haven't checked the black relay fuses under the hood. Could one of those be the problem?

My sons 99 accord lx instrument panel sstopped working and now the a/c and or any control will not work accept the blower fan still works. This has been happening intermitently and is now only working briefly once in a great while. I know this is not a fuse but I did check all of them anyway. I think the intrument panel board must have a problem. My question is in two parts do you think I am on the right track? And Do you have instructions to open up the dash without damaging it? Thanks I look forward to your reply.

I've had that new alternator checked first by autozone where I bought it, and then by a friend of mines father who is a mechanic. Both said that the alternator is working fine.

As far as the black relays, how would I check to see if those are bad or not. I have a little fuse checker but there's no way I would be able to check those relays with that fuse checker, its only made for small fuses.