MARCH 31, 2004                                                      EXHIBIT 99.1


TECUMSEH PRODUCTS COMPANY APPOINTS NICHOLSON AS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TECUMSEH, MICHIGAN -- MARCH 31, 2004 -- The Board of Directors of Tecumseh
Products Company, at its meeting today, has chosen to appoint James S. Nicholson
to the position of Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer.

Nicholson has been with the Company as its Corporate Controller since February
2002. He holds both a Bachelor of Business Administration and Masters of
Accounting from the University of Michigan. Prior to joining the Company he was
a partner at the professional services firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he
served as leader of a business process and performance improvement unit in the
Midwest. He is a certified public accountant.

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.


Contact: Pat Walsh (517) 423-8455
         Tecumseh Products Company