I have a 2007 Mercury Mariner Premier 3.0L V6 with the CD4E automatic transmission. I know that those transmissions are horribly infamous for problems and I have been very lucky with mine as I got to nearly 215,000 miles before it "died". I got the transmission pulled and taken apart and I have some questions.

How do I know if the frictions are good or bad/or how much material is suppose to be on them? (may be adding pictures)
How do I know if the torque converter is bad while off the vehicle? (when installed in the bell housing it will turn by hand)

What is the whining sound that I mention below?

It started on my way to work. Two times in a row when shifting the RPMs went over 3000 when they usually stay around 2000 with my driving. I thought "that's not good". Once I got to work, I went to back into a parking space (on a slight incline that leads to a storm drain) and it struggled to reverse but I eventually got it. I check the transmission fluid level and color which were fine and it didn't smell burnt. When I went to go home it didn't want to go into gear and when it finally did, it didn't hold for long. It would "grab" and go whatever random distance and then "let go" and roll to stop in which case I had to pull over and wait for it to "grab" again. I had to limp it home like this rolling to a stop and waiting for it to re-engage. At one point I think I got up to as high as 45mph before it "let go". Also, there was like a metal whining sound in forward that would increase with, I think, engine speed. After getting it home, before pulling the tranny, from a cold start it would take a few seconds to go into reverse or forward. With reverse I have 10 at best to reverse it to wherever I want, but then forward would not work at all. If starting in forward, the "metal whine" was still there and it would engage after a few seconds. I tested both shift solenoids with a test wire and they did click/react. Tranny oil cooler and lines are not clogged. Nothing in the transmission oil pump appeared broke and the 2-4 band was not broke and still had material. I do know that one of the friction plates IS smoked and a few of the steels have a few blueish spots where they may have taken some heat. I believe the input turbine, I think it is, has kind of a rough spot on it. I don't know for sure what is usable and what needs replaced besides the one friction that is smoked. I don't want to replace more than what I need; although the more i think about it, maybe I SHOULD just rebuild the whole thing while it's apart. I know you personally would probably just scrap it. I'm using it as an opportunity to learn.

Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for the help Scotty. You are AWESOME!