2003 Honda CRV EX. What's wrong? My dash gauge lights won't work. Possibly rear defrost too.

Change cd player yesterday. I've read countless articles following the install on how you should not connect certain illumination wires with dimmer wires, and well, I read those too late. I did this, and ever since, I have had no lights on the gauge. The signal lights work, all indicators, odometer reading, just the illuminating lights for the gauges don't.

I have since removed the dimmer wire from the cd player and taped it off on it's own. I have also checked all the fuses in the cab and under the hood, and nothing blown. I even took out the gauge cluster and looked at the circuits for any black or appeared to be blown areas, and nothing. I don't know where to go with this? Could the dimmer assembly in the gauges be blown without any visible signs on the circuit board?

Also, I don't know if this has any effect, but I have not connected the ground from the wire harness. There was one attached to the cd player that I have attached to a screw though.

Also, I imagine this whole ordeal may not have stemmed from the illumination wires, and perhaps while I was adjusting the ground initially. I had the negative back on the battery and the ground sent a few sparks. So I may have done some damage there... Maybe both these issues are the reason?

Any ideas??