It all depends on the load. If the wires are powering a big add-on stereo amplifier or a rackfull of driving lights, then the current drain could cause a problem. OTOH, light loads or loads that are only turned on one at a time may not cause a problem. The real problem is that you couldn't tell what the wires were for. The good thing is that you were sharp enough to spot and remove the offending octopus before it could cause any damage.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970