In terms of width, the owner's manual for the Dodge Caravan is the size of some minor metro phone books, which is to say--large. However, while many things such as changing oil and filling the tires with air are almost perfunctory, there are some maintenance jobs that can extend the life of the car more many years, but are often overlooked.
Most people will buy a car, take it home from the lot and never once think about taking a look at why it runs so well. Before taking it off the lot, ask the dealer what kind of oil (Dodge often uses SAE 5W-20) they have been using; what kinds of spark plugs and other details about maintenance. Once home, pop the hood and see what the engine looks like and take a photo of it. That way if you incur problems down the road, you can have a visual reference for any mistakes such as loose hoses or excess oil. However, one specific thing to remember about most Caravans is that the battery is sealed, so a person can't work on it unless going to an authorized mechanic.
Dodge recommends to change a Caravan's oil every 6,000 miles (or six months) using SAE 5W-20 oil or a synthetic oil. Avoid additives to the oil expect leak detection dyes. Change the oil filter after every oil change. Also, rotate the tires after every 6,000 miles. Make sure to keep an eye on the air conditioning units. Some late model Caravans are known to blow the unit after 100,000 miles.
Dodge recommends to inspect the brake linings, the air conditioning filer and the engine air cleaner every 12,000 miles. Replace if necessary. These are relatively simple and can be done in less than 30 minutes. Also, check the drive belt and spark plugs during this inspection.
At 24,000 miles, Dodge recommends to check the CV joints, the exhaust system and do an entire front end inspection for things such as the suspension, the tie rod ends and the boot seals. Replace if needed. One again, check the drive belt. Change the engine control module as well. Some Caravans have experienced problems when driving in warm weather (such as coasting for no reason). It could be a sign of a malfunctioning engine control module.
Polish the exterior of the car twice a year and the interior quarterly or as needed. The wiper blades should be changed every six months depending on use. Check your transmission coolant periodically. If there is one problem with a Caravan historically, it has been with transmissions failing. Proper coolants will prolong the transmission's life.
