1997 Dodge Caravan Battery

Yes, this side(negative) is vital especially with all the electronic accessories needing a ground circuit more now then ever. I would not be too hard on the workers who mistakenly left this problem unattended. In a good 26 years of searching for technicians and mechanics alike who purposely and needlessly make simple mistakes, I've never met one single person who enjoyed making any. This was unforgiveable to anyone in any shop. And they would hear about it for hours from their bosses and fellow workers. Its a good thing you took the time to look and had the patience and wisdom to pick the correct website. OK good luck to ya

Minus 46 degrees. That is cold just to key in. Yes, it could be fuel. The only thing to do, as long as it cranks, is to check it for spark from the plug wire. If it has spark you may try a starting fluid. But it depends on if your van has a 3.0L or 3.3L and mileage. In that cold temperature there may be quite a few reasons. In some cold areas many trucks and vans are idled through out the night.
Maybe if it warms up a little and you have some help you can check to see if your getting ignition spark from a plug wire. It needs spark, fuel, and compression but it is very difficult to start any engine unless everything is almost perfectly clean and the fuel is ok. I have never had to use Heet. Thats very cold. -46 Where are you located?
Starting fluid is a often used good way to start a car or van in very cold weather.