What does the light that has a picture of a Battery and a thermometer mean?

Instrument Panel Warning Lights

Usually, when any warning light turns on is an indication that there is something wrong in that system.

Occasionally, malfunctions in the sensors and alert system can imply trouble in the system it represents, even though there is nothing wrong.

When a warning light or signal is noticed, the vehicle operator should either check out the system alerted [ONLY IF QUALIFIED] or have the vehicle checked by a qualified automotive service technician. This is because some malfunctions can be serious enough to cause very expensive damage to the vehicle's components.

The warning symbol with the battery icon can illuminate due to many things, some of which immediately come to mind include [but this list is not all inclusive]:

• Loose or missing drive belt allowing alternator to "slip" and thus not put out enough voltage to properly charge the battery.
• An "open circuit" [loose or broken conductor (wire), corroded connections or connectors, burned out diodes in the alternator, etc., etc.] in any of the circuits related to charging of the battery.

The thermometer icon usually comes on to indicate that the coolant [water and antifreeze or lubricant] temperature is above or approaching an dangerously high temperature. Uncorrected over-temperature of an engine can ultimately result in boil-off of coolant, and total destruction of an engine. It can also be dangerously unsafe for anyone trying to add more coolant to the system.