[jessetsi]

I put this in the credit repair section because I am in the middle of repairing my credit, and I want to get some serious advice from the experts.
Here is what my positive history looks like:
1) Unsecured Credit Card with 12 months positive history, closed
2) Secured Credit Card, 3 years positive history ($600 Limit), open, 50% balance
3) Unsecured Credit Card, 1.5 years positive history ($550 Limit), open, 50% balance
4) Unsecured Credit Card, 1.5 years positive history ($400 Limit), open, 30% balance
5) Student Loan, 1 year positive history, 50% paid off
6) Unsecured Auto Loan (With Finance Company) 18% interest, 7 months positive, $1150 starting balance, $430 current balance

Negatives:
1) Repo (comes off in 2 years)
3 medical collections
1 credit card charge off (settled for less then amount owed)
1 misc collection

This is my credit, I have about a 610 score.

Now, here is my confusion. Today I was told by my credit union that I can put $2,500 (minimum) into a CD with a APY of 2.0% for 7 months or 2.5% for 14 months.
Now, the nice guy at the Credit Union said that I can take a "secured loan" against the money in the CD and determine the minimum payment and payback terms. The APR will be 3% above the APY of the CD. So 5% or 5.5%
I can borrow up to the amount in my CD. But I would probably borrow a little less.
Here are my questions:
1) Will a Secured Loan Help My credit?
2) What amount would help me the most 1,000...2,000?
3) Is there any advice, or anything I should know? Anyone with experience here?

I plan to take the "loan" and pay down all my credit cards to 10%, I would like to have the car loan for at least 12 months before I pay it off.

Thanks!