I believe your right about it being the latch or cable. However i don't see getting the door panel off with the door closed. If that was my problem i would get a (SLIM JIM) to trip the mechanism from the outside to get the door open and then you could get the panel off the make your repairs. Be careful because without me knowing if that car has electric actuators for the power door locks you don't want to damage any wires that may be in that so go slow and the door will open...Hope this helps..
Under the dash on the drivers side of the car.
On a 1997 Mercury Cougar : The engine oil dipstick is on the drivers side of the engine ( for the 3.8 liter V6 and the 4.6 liter V8 )
under the dash on the drivers side AND UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE...
On a 1996 Mercury Cougar : In the fuse panel under the drivers side of the dash : ( there is a 20 amp fuse , the panel is marked " CIGARLTR" )
Your Mercury Cougar might stall in reverse because of a problem with a bad crank sensor. This problem could also be due to the crank sensor wires which are damaged or not wired correctly.
the rear one ========================================================== On a 1995 Mercury Cougar , 4.6 liter V8 engine : ( Bank 2 ) is the drivers side of the engine
On the drivers side up under the dash you will see the fuse panel close to the drivers door
For a 1999 Mercury Cougar : In the Power Distribution Box ( which is " live " ) located in the engine compartment ( on the drivers side of the engine compartment ) ( relay R1 is the fuel pump relay )
The fuel pump inertia switch is in the drivers footwell behind the kick panel ( there is an access hole ) in the 1999 Mercury Cougar
you have to unlock the passenger door from the outside with the key
Mercury Cougar was created in 1967.
near the fusebox (drivers side interior)