I think they were originally twisted together but wasn't sure. Still won't start when twisted together. I was having problems when starting - it would click and if you turned the starter long enough eventually it would engage the starter and start. I put new battery cables on which did not help the situation, then started tapping on the solenoid and checking for loose wires when I discovered these wires which were taped up. I may well have a bad solenoid but I'm not even getting power to it now. It won't even try to engage. Thanks