1990 Dodge Dakota Troubles

Dakota 4X4 1990 3/4 of a tank of gas. about a 3 or 4 blocks the pickup dies Yes i can restart it but It take a lot of cranking to get it restarted 3 or 4 mins. some times If i losen the air filter cap and retry to start the pickup it will start. Could it be the fuel filter?

Next trouble The temp stat when the pickup is off the temp state is on half and when the pick is started the temp stat returns to the right place dose any one know the trouble?

dose any one now what the engine light means when it blinks 3 times?
I done the trick on off 3 times and the engine light had blink 3 times