Suzuki: airconditioning, dowel rod, power steering pump

Question
When the air is engaged their is squealing that can be heard.  It almost sounds like what the power steering pump does when it needs some fluid or is not doing well.  Can it be that the belt is loose or bad or is there some other likely reason

Answer
A loose belt is the most common cause.
If the belt is not loose, while the vehicle is running, and the air "on" use a long screwdriver, dowel rod or other long device, fold the little flap of your ear over and see what kind of noise is transmitted to your ear.  So long as it does not sound like it's grinding itself to pieces, you should be ok.  If it's low on charge, usually, the compressor cycles on and off as pressures drop below acceptable levels - that's usually a dead giveaway.  During the winter, when it's not is regular use, sometimes the seals leak a little.  This usually isn't a problem with regular use.