The power of electricity - plus a little bit of thermodynamic physics - help power your Kia spark plug wires. Your Kia spark plug wires carry the high-voltage electricity that has been produced by the ignition coil to the terminal of the spark plug. Once at the plug, the electricity travels to the other end of the plug. The current jumps a gap between electrodes to produce the 'spark' that ignites the fuel mixture. The spark comes when an insulator breaks down and allows a rapid discharge of electrons across it. A quick review of your basic physics can also help: According to the first law of physics: moving a magnet past coiled wires causes current to flow in the wire; that creates a complete circuit. Refer to the second law of physics: current that flows in coiled wires causes a magnetic field to surround the wires. To handle that current flow, Kia spark plug wires are made of a conductive core and typically silicone rubber insulation. To check out your wires, first look for signs of arcing, which means that the spark is leaking out and jumping to a nearby ground on the engine. Scorch marks on the wires are a sign that arcing is occuring. Run the engine in darkness, and watch the engine for the sight of little electrical arcs, or listen for the snap-crack of electricity. Spray the plug wire ends with clean water while you run the engine at idle during this test. If you see an electrical light show, it's time to replace your Kia spark plug wires.