Hyundai Repair: crankshaft sensor needs replacing, crankshaft pulley, crankshaft sensor

Question
What causes a cranshaft sensor to go out and why does mine need replacing hours after I had my timing belts replaced?

I have 80,000 miles on my 1997 Hyundai Elentra. Two days after having my timing belts replaced at the dealership, my check engine light came on for 15 minutes.  I was relieved when it went off.  Over a 10-day period the check engine light came on three more times for minutes, and finally my car didn't crank at all.  I had it towed back to the dealership. The dealership told me I need my cranshaft sensor replace.  I asked them if they did not somehow damage it when they replaced the timing belts.  They tell me that the crankshaft sensor can go out/wear out at any time and is totally unrelated to the replacing of the timing belts.  I know that in some models the crankshaft pulley has to be removed to get to the timing belts and replace them. The dealership says they did not have to touch the crankshaft pulley at all.

Answer
Your crankshaft sensor incorporates a magnet and circuitry.  Like anything else electronic, it can fail at any time without warning.  

Although the dealer would have had to remove the crankshaft pulley to replace the timing belt, that is nowhere near the crankshaft sensor on your engine.  In fact, I cannot think of anything the dealership could do that would cause your crankshaft sensor to fail in the way it did.  

I know you're suspicious because this occurred immediately after having the timing belts replaced.  But I cannot think of any explanation other than coincidence.  And I tend to be overly critical.