I was reluctant to speak out against the Berk test pipe when they were sponsors here, but I see they are no longer sponsors, so here goes.................

Of all the test pipes, the Berk has been the most hap-hazard of all of them in terms of tripping the CEL. The Berk guy posted after my last comment on this that they have a proven product that is made and designed properly. It has ALWAYS been painfully evident that this is NOT true. There have simply been too many examples of Berk pipe owners coming up with CELs to overlook this design flaw. This product has the built in "non-fouler" at right angles to the main pipe. It is obvious that the angle and the size of the hole within does NOT, in all cases, eliminate the CEL. In the sense that it doesn't work in 100% of the cases, this is not a proven product for the intended purpose. If you like the price and the fit and fitment and don't mind playing the crap shoot with the CEL, then buy it. As far as I can recollect, a double non-fouler, with the end in the pipe NOT fully drilled out has never thrown a CEL. Also, to the best of my observation, the test pipe (can't remember the name now) with the built in non-fouler at angle pointing away from the flow of exhaust, has never thrown a CEL.
Those with a "bad" Berk pipe can always install a non-fouler on the end to get the O2 sensor a little further away. This may be an answer to your problem short of throwing the thing away.

 

I used a non-fouler on my Invidia testpipe with no problems at all . xviper I'm not sure if you're implying that I have an aftermarket exhaust or not a few posts up but it's all stock besides the test pipe.

 

I have no CEL with my berk pipe, granted its only been in for 220 miles and I wouldn't expect to see it yet. The fitment is excellent. The construction and finish is superb. I can live with crawling under there and using an non fouler is it happens to throw a CEL. It probably depends on how rich your car is running.

 

I was responding to Harpoon's post, but my same response would apply to you even though you have just a test pipe. The absence of a cat can change the flow of exhaust significantly such that it can alter the resonance quality of the sound. The same explanation can apply to your exhaust. You may have loose muffler material or ringing hangers or vibrating tips or heatshields, too.

 

I'm gonna sound like a total idiot right now; but what is this "smell" that everyone is talking about? Is it a gasoline smell?

 

unburned hydro carbons
i guess its gasoline

 

It's the smell of rotten eggs (sulfer dioxide). The cat normally takes care of it.

 

I'm sure you've been behind a car that really smells. now you will be driving one of those cars

 

In the "HELP!" section (those little red packages with random car parts ) of any autozone, pepboys, etc.

 

BTW, here is what my car sounded like when it had a testpipe and an HKS...
http://videos.streetfire.net/search/s2000+...F7B0D4E46CF.htm