8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


       Date of report (date of earliest event reported): FEBRUARY 27, 2003


                            TECUMSEH PRODUCTS COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                    MICHIGAN
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

            0-452                                        38-1093240
  (Commission File Number)                  (IRS Employer Identification Number)


                            100 EAST PATTERSON STREET
                            TECUMSEH, MICHIGAN 49286
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (517) 423-8411


                                 NOT APPLICABLE
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)







ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

       The registrant's press release dated February 27, 2003, regarding the
  retirement of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Kenneth G. Herrick, and
  appointment of Todd W. Herrick as the new Chairman is attached as Exhibit 99.


ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

         (c)   The following exhibit is filed as a part of this report:

                  Exhibit No.              Description

                       99                  Press release dated February 27, 2003




                                   SIGNATURES

       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, the
  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



Date:    February 28, 2003              TECUMSEH PRODUCTS COMPANY





                                        By:  /s/  DAVID W. KAY
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            David W. Kay
                                            Vice President, Treasurer and
                                             Chief Financial Officer




                                 EXHIBIT INDEX




EXHIBIT NO.             DESCRIPTION


EX-99                   Press release dated February 27, 2003

EX-99

February 27, 2003                                                     Exhibit 99


TECUMSEH PRODUCTS COMPANY
(NASDAQ:  TECUA and TECUB)


                TECUMSEH PRODUCTS COMPANY ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF
                    CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD KENNETH G. HERRICK


Tecumseh, Michigan, February 27, 2003 . . . . Tecumseh Products Company today
announced that Kenneth G. Herrick has retired as a director and the Chairman of
the Board. The Board appointed Mr. Herrick's son, Todd W. Herrick, President and
Chief Executive Officer, to succeed his father as Chairman of Board. The Board
also gave the newly retired Mr. Herrick the honorary designation of Chairman
Emeritus.

"On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to take this opportunity to
thank Ken Herrick for his dedication and service to Tecumseh Products,"
commented Mr. J. Russell Fowler. "The Board of Directors is confident that our
senior management team will continue to successfully manage the business of the
Company while implementing our current business strategies."

Tecumseh Products Company is a full-line independent global manufacturer of
hermetic compressors for residential and commercial refrigerators, freezers,
water coolers, dehumidifiers, window air conditioning units and residential and
commercial central system air conditioners and heat pumps; gasoline engines and
power train for lawn mowers, lawn and garden tractors, garden tillers, string
trimmers, snow throwers, industrial and agricultural applications and
recreational vehicles; electric motors and components, including AC and DC
motors, blowers, gear motors and linear actuators for a wide variety of
industrial and consumer applications across a broad range of industries; and
centrifugal pumps, sump pumps and small submersible pumps for industrial,
commercial, marine and agricultural applications. Our products are sold in over
100 countries around the world. Worldwide sales for the year ended December 31,
2001 were approximately $1.4 billion.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to the safe
harbor provisions created by that Act. Forward-looking statements can be
identified by the use of terms such as "expects," "should," "may," "believes,"
"anticipates," "will," and other future tense and forward-looking terminology.
Readers are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from those
projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. For a description of
these risks and uncertainties, refer to "Cautionary Statements Relating to





Forward Looking Statements" in the Management's Discussion and Analysis section
of Tecumseh Products Company's Annual Report to Shareholders and Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2001, and each quarter's 10-Q.

Contact:          Pat Walsh
                  Director of Investor Relations
                  Tecumseh Products Company
                  (517) 423-8455

Website:  www.tecumseh.com