Are these problems with broadcast channels where the EPG comes over the air?
For EPG search try going to the grid EPG and highlighting a program such as "the news" and press yellow for epg search. Does it give some finds? Then press yellow again for new search and you should get a text screen to enter your own search key words.
Go to the grid EPG and highlight a programs such as "the news" and press yellow for epg search. From the results screen press MENU and you should get a setup option.
Autotimers
Menu -> Timers -> Autotimers -> press MENU and and a new menu should appear where one of the options is setup. Check for the number of days to look ahead.
When configuring an Autotimer it will take a few minutes until it actually searches so check perhaps after 5 minutes to see if any timers have been set by the autotimer.