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If the connector was bad that it required replacement none of the replacement sensors would "work" until the electrical connection was fixed. There may have been nothing wrong with the original crank sensor. Seeing that it was 11 years old it is a good investment to replace it before it would quit anyway.
Next question - how did they connect up to the existing wires? Solder and heatshrink, twist the wires together and electrical tape them or use the wonderful butt connectors.