The fuel light on my Rodeo keeps blinking and the needle on the fuel gauge is

Agree, sounds like it is the sender unit in the tank, takes between one and two hours to replace depending on which of two fuel tanks are fitted to your car. Bad news is its part of the fuel pump assembly. There is a company that independent auto repair shops get their information from, this same information is available inexpensively for people that work on their own cars.. The information is year make and model specific, covering repair procedures, torque specifications, fluid capacities and specifications, service bulletins, component locations, wiring diagrams ect.... Alldata is very easy to navigate http://bit.ly/AllData_Repair_Manuals_Online

Your fuel gauge sender (people call it the float) could be malfunctioning and need replaced. Of course the only way to get it out is to go into the fuel tank and get it. Here's what it looks like http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/1Sunpro-240-Ohm-empty-and-33-Ohm-full-fuel-level-sender-for-fuel-level-gauge-and-5-to-26-in-deep-tanks/_/N-269r?itemIdentifier=87625_0_0_

change the pump