Hi!
Please change the file permissions on the cache and css folders, here is an article on how you can do it: http://wp-dreams.com/faqs/the-search-is-not-saving-the-changes-i-made/
After changing the permissions, please save the search once again!
As I upper suggested, please try the search with the default template, and if it works, then we will know if it’s the template causing that.
Also, can you provide temporary administrator and ftp access? Then I will be able to run a quick debug as well.