Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Accounting Policies	NOTE 1. Accounting Policies The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Tecumseh Products Company and subsidiaries (the “Company”, “we” or “us”) have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. Such financial statements reflect all adjustments (all of which are of a normal recurring nature) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year. The accompanying unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. Due to the seasonal nature of certain product lines, the results of operations for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire fiscal year. Reclassification Certain reclassifications have been made to prior results to conform to classifications used at September 30, 2011. These reclassifications have no impact on net income. Use of Estimates Management is required to make certain estimates and assumptions in preparing the consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These estimates and assumptions impact the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements. They also impact the reported amount of net earnings or losses during any period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements include those related to: accruals for product warranty, deferred tax assets, self-insured risks, pension and postretirement benefit obligations and environmental matters, as well as the evaluation of long lived asset impairments and determination of stock based compensation.

Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

NOTE 1. Accounting Policies

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Tecumseh Products Company and subsidiaries (the “Company”, “we” or “us”) have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. Such financial statements reflect all adjustments (all of which are of a normal recurring nature) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year. The accompanying unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. Due to the seasonal nature of certain product lines, the results of operations for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire fiscal year.

Reclassification

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior results to conform to classifications used at September 30, 2011. These reclassifications have no impact on net income.

Use of Estimates

Management is required to make certain estimates and assumptions in preparing the consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These estimates and assumptions impact the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements. They also impact the reported amount of net earnings or losses during any period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Significant estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements include those related to: accruals for product warranty, deferred tax assets, self-insured risks, pension and postretirement benefit obligations and environmental matters, as well as the evaluation of long lived asset impairments and determination of stock based compensation.