A method and system for controlling a climate control system on a vehicle after entering a heat soak mode in which the outside air temperature associated with the vehicle is affected by absorption of non-ambient heat includes an ambient temperature sensor for sensing a current ambient temperature outside the vehicle. A controller coupled to the ambient temperature sensor compares the current ambient temperature to a stored ambient temperature representative of the outside air temperature prior to entering the heat soak mode. The controller controls the climate control system using the current ambient temperature if the current ambient temperature is less than the stored ambient temperature. If the current ambient temperature is greater than the stored ambient temperature, the controller determines a heat build up affecting the current ambient temperature and controls the climate control system using the current ambient temperature only upon elimination of the heat build up.