Locating the spark plugs in your 2001 Kia Sportage is the first step to maintaining them. If you do not know where they are, you cannot change or inspect them regularly. Change the spark plugs anytime you do a tune-up on your Kia. While there are extended life plugs available for your Kia, if you are not using them, change the plugs in your Kia according to the manufacturer's guideline. New spark plugs can improve the way your Sportage runs as well as increase fuel economy.
Open the hood of your Kia Sportage and support the hood with the prop rod. The hood has a hole in it that is clearly marked prop rod; using any other hole may allow the hood to fall while you are working.
Lock at the engine in your Sportage. Running along the top of the engine is the cylinder head and valve cover. This is the top of the engine.
Move down from the valve cover to the side of the cylinder head. The spark plugs run along the side of the cylinder head, front to back. Each spark plug will have a spark plug wire attached to it. There are four plugs on the Kia Sportage engine.
