1997 Chevrolet Silverado Tail lights

always check the bulbs first as the filament can be burned out then check for ashort or see if power is coming to lights. check fuse 9 as well it's the brown wire to taillights.

Wouldn't the lights be browned or look burnt?

yes and usually the filament is gone.

Then the bulbs aren't bad. They look fine

Could it be a loose ground wire? Looking underneath the truck I saw A black wire hanging. I'm guessing it's a ground wire. Don't know where it goes. It's just hanging. Would that make the running lights not work but still the brake lights?

Also my dashboard lights are giving me trouble. All interior lights work fine on the switch. But the lights for the gauges and speedometer and all that will work sometimes. Every now and then they would come on. But mostly they don't work. Any idea there?

check fuses as well I thought I put it in last reply check in car and under hood. the black wire attaches to frame and may be your problem try to reattach it as well

Nothing is working.. Need a wiring schematic to follow all the wires

see pic there is s circuit board on back frame that may be bad as well that hs a few plug ins so check to see if power is coming in from front it may not be going out of it. it is not shown in pic.