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I'm having difficulty comprehending the Searchlight rules in conjunction with the rules for Night Fighting.

The searchlight rules say, that a vehicle can use its searchlight to illuminate an enemy it has "fired at".

Obviously this means that the initial vehicle will "fire in the dark" before it gets to illuminate the target for the rest of the SM/IG army.

So, does this mean that:

1) searchlights cannot be used against targets further than 36" away, even if the vehicle possesses 48" guns, for example

2) what does "fired at" mean? If the target was within 36" and the tank decided to shoot everything but A) didn't hit at all, does it gets to use its searchlight for other units? B) hit, but the target's shrouded rule provided a successful cover save and thus no damage was done, does it get to use its searchlight for other units?

In 5th edition, you had to hit the target. Now you just need to roll to hit against the target. Therefore:
1. Correct, as you cannot choose a target greater than 36" away, you cannot fire at said unit.
2. "Fired at" means shoot at. Whether or not damage is done as long as you shoot at the unit it can be illuminated.

If you have a search light, you choose to illuminate your target after you've fired all your weapons which negates your unit's and target's nightfighting cover saves.

Since you can't fire at anything further than 36" away, you can't illuminate it.